Who's Your Grammie?

I have been writing about the grandmothers in our family tree since August of 2012. Beginning with "A is for Anna" each entry introduced you to a different grandmother. Telling the Grandmother stories was a fun way to share my research with family and friends. Now I am looking at our Revolutionary War ancestors, their service records, the story of their families and of course the stories of their wives, our grandmothers. After all, "Who's Your Grammie?" is about our grandmothers!

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Johannes George Lilly (1726 - 1791)

Also known as and shown in various records as: Johan Georg, Hans Jerg, John George, Jürg, and George, his name is found among the list of foreigners imported in the Bilander, Thistle, Geo. Houston, Commander, from Rotterdam, last from Cowes. John Georg Lille was on board the Thistle with forty-two men, thirty-six boys, sixty-four women and girls, in all 142 passengers, when they arrived in Philadelphia and qualified October 28, 1738, 250 years ago this week.

His Veteran’s Record of Burial Place Card provides us with a record of his service in the War. It is noted that he served as a substitute for his brother Leonard.

In November, 1738 Johannes George Lilly located in Albany Twp., Berks, County, Pennsylvania where his name later appears on tax lists from that time to 1771. In 1767 George Llly was assessed in Berks County for 100 acres, 4 horses, 3 cows, and 4 sheep.

He married Anna Margaretha Wenner, a daughter of Hans Nicholas Wenner and his wife Anna Maria, on March 17, 1746 in Albany Twp., Berks, County. George Lilly was given 20 pounds in the will of his father in law in 1760, Nicholas Wenner.

Around 1767 George migrated his family to Allen Township, Northampton County. Records show that he purchased several lots in what was called the Indian Tract in Allen Township. It is probably here that they raised their family of seven children, namely Andreas, Johan Jacob, John Niclolas, John, Johan Leonard, Johannes Frederick, Michael and Anna Margaretha. Andreas Lilly married Catherine Kunkel.

Johannes George Lilly, made his will out in January, 1780, WB:2:152:1791 Allen Twp. Executors of the will were Han Stalling and son Leonard Lilly. Named in the will are his wife Anna Margaretha and five sons: Johan Jacob; Leonard; Johann; Michel, and the eldest son Andrew. Also mentioned is deceased daughter, Anna Margaretha who married George Kunkel, her two children to receive her share. The will was proven April 2, 1791 and filed at the Northampton County Courthouse in Easton, Pennsylvania. The will is written in German.

He is buried at Zion UCC Stone Church Cemetery, Kreidersville, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. While the stone is no longer there, his name appears on a plaque with those of other Revolutionary War Veterans.

Find A Grave Memorial# 5718532

George and Anna Margaretha Lilly were the 3rd great grandparents of Estella Kunkle Smith, great grandmother of Ronald B. Smith.

Source Citations:

Immigrant Ships  Transcribers Guild

http://immigrantships.net/1700/thistle381028.html

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania Veterans Burial Cards, 1929-1990; Archive Collection Number: Series 1-7; Folder Number: 279.

                                           Please see this list of all My Revolutionary War Ancestors.

                                                               Copyright
                                         This page © 2013, Cynthia H. Smith 
                                         Send email to chsmith47@yahoo.com

This site may be linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent. The copyright on this page must appear on all copied and/or printed material.

GENEALOGY IS A WORK OF HEART Your comments and suggestions are appreciated. It is with pleasure that I am able to present this information here for you to enjoy. If you discover a relationship here, I would very much enjoy hearing from you.
Email to chsmith47@yahoo.com

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Jacob Rufe (1718 - 1790)

In 1922 the Rufe Family held their 6th annual reunion in Perkasie Park, Perkasie, Pennsylvania. At that time they wrote that there were some 1,200 persons on the family register reported to be descended from Jacob Rufe. Now, almost 100 years later, just imagine now many people are descended from him today.

THE HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, CHAPTER XXXIV, NOCKAMIXON, 1742, by W. W. H. Davis states, "The Rufe family of this township are descended of Jacob, originally spelled Ruff, who came from Germany, August 27, 1739. Jacob Ruff, the ancestor, died December 25, 1790, aged 72. The family are Lutherans, and between 1783 and 1800 at least five families of the name were connected with the Nockamixon congregation, all leaving descendants." What a legacy!

When he was 21 years old, Jacob Rufe left his homeland in Germany to come to America. He arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania aboard the ship, Snow Betsy, on August 27, 1739, Richard Buden, commander, from Rotterdam and Deal.*

Jacob married Elizabeth and together they become the parents of six sons, John, Jacob, Henry, Christian, George and Frederick, and a daughter whose name was Sophia. They bought 180 acres of land in Nockamixon township, Bucks Co., Pennsylvania which he farmed.

From the book, A Genealogical and Personal History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, we learn more about his involvement in the Revolutionary War. "Jacob was corporal of Captain Jacob Shupe's Company, Bucks County Militia, in 1775 and 1777, and his sons, John, Jacob, and Henry, were privates in the same company. This company was one of those stationed at Bristol, Bucks County, in 1777, under the command of Colonel Hugh Tomb, and probably saw active service in the New Jersey Campaign."

The DAR has him listed as Jacob Roof Ancestor #: A097317 .

Jacob Rufe died on Christmas Day, 1790, aged seventy - two years. His will was recorded in Bucks County.

Bucks Co. Wills--

5.207. Jacob Ruff, Nockamixon Twp,. yeoman.

April 19, 1788. Proved January 4, 1791.

Wife Elizabeth and son Frederick exrs.

Sons Jacob, Henry, Christian, George and Frederick.

Only dau. Sophia, wife of George Folmer.

Wits: Frederick Everhart, Michael Krauss and John Spankenberg.

Jacob Rufe is buried in the St. Lukes Cemetery Nockamixon Union Cemetery on Church Hill Road in Ferndale, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. It is noted by several researchers that his wife Elizabeth is also buried there. Her full name was Anna Elizabeth Speece Rufe. I have not found additional information about her.

Jacob and Elizabeth's son, John Frederick, or as he was known Frederick, married Elizabeth Sumstone. Their daughter, Catherine Rufe, married Peter Long and they were the parents of my great, great grandfather, Mahlon Long. Mahlon's granddaughter, Sarah Eliza Long McEwen, was my grandmother.

Source:

From Strassburger & Hinke's Pennsylvania German Pioneers, 1934, by the Pennsylvania German Society, Norristown, PA. (pp256-260) http://www.olivetreegenealogy.com/ships/palship29.shtml
Find A Grave Memorial# 54824789

Please see this list of all My Revolutionary War Ancestors.

Copyright
This page © 2013, Cynthia H. Smith 

Send email to chsmith47@yahoo.com

This site may be linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent. The copyright on this page must appear on all copied and/or printed material.

Email address--- chsmith47@yahoo.com

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Johan Christopher Illick (1746 - 1818)

Hans Rudolph Illig (Illick) and his wife Magdalena of Williams Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania are known to have had one son who was Johan Christopher Illick. The records of Williams Township Congregation, also known as St. Lukes Lutheran in the Marx History Room of the Easton Public Library contains his baptism record:

"Illick, Johann Christoph, son of Rudolph and wife Magdalena,

born Jan. 2, 1746

baptized Feb. 9, 1746

sponsors Christoph Guthman and wife Benigna."

He was also known as Stofel Illick, Stofel being a common nickname for Christopher. Stofel Illick was a farmer and a weaver by trade. He married Elizabeth Huber on March 31, 1768. But, I found a reference that Christoph and Elizabeth llick took Holy Communion on Good Friday, 1767, indicating that they would have been married in 1767 before the Revolutionary War began in earnest. Together they became the parents of eleven children. The tomb stone inscription of Elizabeth Illick says she was the mother of 11 children, eight sons and three daughters. Johann Phillip born March 24,1770, Elizabeth born November 9,1771, Johannes born January 22,1774, Johann Christophel born March 12,1778, Christina born January 9,1780, Frederick, Ann-Margaratha, Johann Heinrich born August 26, 1781, Johann Phillip born January 15,1786. Good thing the boys followed the German custom of being called by their middle name!

With all these children to provide for it is a good thing he farmed. As a weaver he would have had a loom in his home to make cloth from yarn. The yarn may have been spun on spinning wheels from wool collected from sheep. Raising the sheep, shearing the wool, carding and processing the wool into yarn would have been tasks preformed by the children much like we see here.

This scenario copied from a woodcut printed in The Little Book of Early American Crafts and Trades (first published in 1807) illustrates the family economy at work in the home!

Christopher Illick served several enlistments in the army during the time of the Revolutionary War. In 1777 he was a private in the 1st Company of the 1st Battalion, of Williams Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania Militia under Colonel George Hubner and Captain Joseph Frey. In 1780 he served again as a private in the 1st Company of the 4th Battalion under Captain Anthony Larch. And in 1782 he provided service in the Militia as a private in the 1st Company of the 4th Battalion, Northampton County.

The graves of Johan Christopher Illick and his wife Elizabeth Huber Illick are located in the St Lukes Old Williams Cemetery in Williams Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. This is not far from where the Illick family lived.

Johan Christopher Illick was 72 years old when he died on November 27, 1818. Elizabeth Huber Illick was born on September 15, 1746 And lived to be 69 years old when she died April 25, 1816. Her tombstones notes that they were married 15 days short of 45 years.

My great grandmother, Clara Illick McEwen was the great granddaughter of Christopher and Elizabeth.

Pennsylvania State Archives @ http://www.digitalarchives.state.pa.us

   Please see this list of all My Revolutionary War Ancestors.

                                                     Copyright
                                         This page © 2013, Cynthia H. Smith 

Send email to chsmith47@yahoo.com

This site may be linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent. The copyright on this page must appear on all copied and/or printed material.

Email address--- chsmith47@yahoo.com